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8. As the bird, enclosed in the cage i a not his flesh against its sides; so neither r thou vainly to run the ° state thou art in, but know it is alloted thee, and be con i 9. Though its ways are uneven, yet are they not commodate thyself to all; and where there is the Jeast sppeaance of evil, suspect the greatest danger. When thy bed is atraw, thou sleepest in security; but when thou aereteh thyself on roses, beware of the thorns. ii. A good death is better than evil life; strive therefore, to live as Jong as thou oughtest, not as long as thou canst While thou life is to others worth more than thy death, it is duty to preserve it. 12. Complain not, with the fool, ot ty shortness of thy time: re- member, with thy days the cares are shortened 13. Take from the period of thy fe the useless part of it, and what remaineth ? 14. Take off the time of thine infancy, thy second infancy of age, thy sleep, thy thoughtless hours, thy days of sickness; and, even at thy fulness of years, how few seasons hast thou truly numbered! 15. He who gave thee life as a blessing, shortened it to make it more so. 16. To what end would fonger life have served thee? Wishest thou to have had an opportunity of more vices? As to the good, will not He whe limited thy span, be satished with the fruits of it. ’ 17. To what end, © child of sorrow, wouldst thou live longer. To breathe, to eat, to see the world? All this thou hast done often already. Too frequent repetition, is it not tiresome? Or is it not superfluous? 18. Wouldst thou improve thy wisdom and thy virtue? Alas] What are thou to know? Or who is it that shalt teach thee? Badly thou employest the little thou hast; dare ‘Rot, therefore, to complain that the more is mot given thee, arsVTE 25 gate e 19. _Repine not at thy want of knowledge; it must perish within the grave. Be honest here, thou shalt be wise hereafter. 20. Say not unto the crow, “Why numberest thou seven times thy ford?” or to the fawn, “Why are thine eyes to see my offspring af hun- ared generations?” Are these to be compared with thee in the abuse of life? 21 Are they riotous? Are they cruel? Are they ungrate- ful? Leam from them, rather, that innocence of manners are the paths af good old age. 22. Knowest thou to employ life better than these? Then less of it may suffice thee. 23. Man, who dares enslave the world, when he knows he can - enjoy his tyranny but for a moment, what would he not aim at, if he were immortal, 24, Enough hath thou of life, but thou regardest it not; thou art not in want of it, O man, but thou art prodigal; thou threwest it lightly away, as if thou hadst more than enough; and yet thou repinest that it is not gathered again unto thee. Know, that it is not abundant w maketh rich, but Economy. 25. The wise continueth to live from his first period; the fool is ale ways. beginning.